Zuma won't meet marchers

PRESIDENT Jacob Zuma will not be available to receive a memorandum of demands from the ANC Youth League and marchers at the Union Buildings on Friday. But Zuma, who will be out of the country on government business, is expected to be given the list of demands when he returns.

Also, the Tshwane metro police have denied the youth league permission to hold a night vigil outside the Union Buildings on Thursday.

Tshwane spokesman Console Tleane said this was decided at a meeting with the convenors of the march, the metro police, the SA Police Service, the Tshwane emergency services and the Presidency yesterday.

ANCYL spokesman Floyd Shivambu yesterday said the league understood and did not expect Zuma himself to receive the memorandum.

"We have confirmation from the JSE and Chamber of Mines that they will send their CEOs to accept our list of demands.

"We fully understand that the president cannot come and accept our memorandum.

"We do not know yet who will receive the memorandum but we expect a senior person to come and receive the demands," Shivambu said.

The league's march has caused considerable discomfort in the Presidency.

Sowetan has it on good authority that the Presidency has not returned a form that has to be signed affirming the march.

The form has to be submitted to the Tshwane Metro Police Department, giving the name of the person who will receive the memorandum.

According to a senior metro police officer, SAPS will collect the signed form if the Presidency does not return it.

Presidency spokesman Harold Maloka said the march had been approved and a representative would receive the memorandum.

Various Cosatu affiliates, traditional leaders, the Limpopo ANC Women's League and student movements have confirmed their participation.

"The ANC Youth League has received massive feedback and interest to participate from many young South Africans," Shivambu said.